The makeover of Montreal's St-Laurent Boulevard is on hold until the spring to the relief of many merchants on the street.

More than a dozen stores have been forced to close because of ongoing road and sidewalk work on the Main over the past 14 months.

With the onset of winter, merchants hope people will still come back to the street and start frequenting businesses again.

"Myself, I'm 25 per cent down [in sales]," said Angelo Perusko, a deli owner. "But I watch my pennies, tighten my spending and we hope now everything will again be normal."

Construction work to modernize the street's waterways is now finished — although work crews will return in 2008 to finish the refurbishing project.

The long wait will be worth it, promises Sandra Fenelon, head of the St-Laurent Boulevard association.

"They have new furniture that's coming, planting of the trees and new lampposts. It's going to be a more beautiful street."

The city won't install any parking metres until the final phase of construction is completed in the spring, which means people can park for free on the street throughout the winter.